Hundreds of hogs were killed in a West Cocalico Township, Lancaster County, fire on Monday morning. A fire on a Lancaster County farm caused at least a million dollars in damage.

The fire, which broke out around 8:30 a.m., destroyed two large barns and killed hundreds of pigs inside.

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Thick smoke poured from two barns in northern Lancaster County that housed 1,400 breeding pigs.

Employees escaped the morning fire safely, but as many as 1,100 pigs died in the blaze, fire investigators said.

"It's very emotional," said Manager Lori Stone. "I've watched a lot of pigs die I couldn't save. It's been hard just trying to get in and get them out"

East Cocalico Township police investigator Brian Dilliplaine said the fire started accidentally in the corner of the maintenance building that connected the two barns. Mechanical equipment was stored in the maintenance building.

Dilliplaine said the fire spread quickly.

"The fire got up into the trusses of the building. When the fire got up there, it spread real quick down the length," Dilliplaine said.

It took firefighters about three hours to get the fire under control. Both barns were destroyed in the fire.

Throughout the day firefighters and others rescued pigs that survived the fire. They were loaded onto trucks and hauled to other farms for temporary housing.

"There's a lot of pigs living there," said neighbor Matt Martin. "You can see some going in the truck right now hauling them away. Miracles happen too."

Among the rescued pigs were 10-day-old piglets rescued from the barns. They were put in a makeshift pen on the property.

Porkchamp LLC of Ohio ran the pork operation on the property, which is owned by the Hibred Company.

Fire officials said the building, its contents and the livestock were insured.

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A u local member sent a photo of the burning barn. You can view it in the slideshow player above.

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